Billing machine



H H. WALKER I 1,845,065

BILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 16, 1932. H. H. WALKER BILLING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25, 1926 Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY'H. WALKER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY; EMILY WALKER ADMINISTRA'IRIX OF SAID HARRY H. WALKER, DECEASED BILLING MACHINE Application tiled October 25, 1926. Serial No. 144,073.

This invention relates to improvements in billing machines and more particularly to billing machines of the Burroughs public utility type.

It is of considerable advantage in work of this character that bills shall be gotten out speedily and it is the object of this invention to provide means for accomplishing this end with a reduced number of machines, a reduced number of operator hours, and reduce the labor and mental effort of the operator, at the same time avoiding objections to former attempts to accomplish such purpose.

With the above objects in view and some others which will be obviousto those skilled in the art from the description hereinafter, the invention consists in the features, details of construction and combination of parts which will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and then more particularly pointed out.

' In the drawings:

Figure 1 is afront perspective view of a public utility billing machine embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the same;

Figure 3 is a guide; Y T

Figure 4 is a cross section of the feed guide, platen and limiting stops;

Figure 5 -is a rear elevation of the carriage frame bracket showing stop limiting shaft and its operating mechanism;

Figure 6 is a plan "View of the same;

Figure 7 are cross-sectional views on the lines a, b, c, of Figure 5; a

Figure 8 is a detail view of the book clamp in cross-section;

Figure 9 is a detail-of the stop limit opfront elevation of the feed erating mechanism Figure 10 18 a S] de view of the shaft hanger and spring detent. and t Figure 11 is a view showing the shield in position over the limiting stops, their shaft and hand operating lever.

While various forms of bills are used in such machines, the one more generally now used and that dealt with herein comprises four sections capable of easy separation, as

by perforation, one for the bookkeeping department, one for the customer, one for the cashiers department, and one for the collector.

The matter set up in the billing machine and typed on such bills is obtained from a meter readers book which is composed of loose leaves and heavy cover held together with thongs. All of the matter set up in the machine is typed on the portion of the bill which is for the customer and may or may not be also typed on the other sections of the bill. This matter is also duplicated on a recap or auditors sheet under its appropriate heading. It is a common practice to hammer block certain portions Where it is unnecessary for such matter to appear. The machine first prints the meter readings, present and prior on the bookkeepers portion, whether gas or electricity be consumed. This is repeated on the customers portion with the addition of the consumption and value thereof. It also is duplicated on the recap sheet behind it, then on the cashiers portion, and then on the coll'ectors coupon. The carriage then returns to the first or bookkeepers coupon where the added matter of consumption and value are printed. The operator striking the operating bar of the machine causes the machine to move the carriage for writing from portion to portion of the bill. If entries for electricreading, consumption and value have been first made, the bill is spaced up from below to permit entries for gas to be entered, under the former entries, the operations described being repeated.

In the meter readers book has been entered the number of the meter or meters if more than one, tricity. The meter reader enters therein the present state of the meter, the prior meter reading appearing therein. In the addresso graph branch of the billing department, a bill for each of the debtors in the meter readers book is imprinted with the name and address of such debtor and kept in chronological order. These imprinted bills (about 100) and the meter readers book, delivered to a billing machine operator, are placed respectively on a shelf at the right and left of the Y chine, as for of the bill.

operator and of the machine. The operator adjusts a recap sheet with carbon sheet so that it will make a duplicate of those items imprinted on the bill which it is desired to have appear thereon, takes the topmost bill from the pile at his right and manipulates it into his machine, turns to the entry in the meter readers book, corresponding to that on the bill, glances at a card vertically positioned on a nearby stand in large black letters andfigures to ascertain the cost-ofthe gas or of' the electricity and sets the data-up in the maexample (assuming electricity is written first.) under the headings. Meter readings, Present 345, Prior 245, kilowatt hours (consumption) 100, and under Amount of bill $8.20. WVhen this has been set up, the machine automatically upon the operator pressing the motor operating bar, prints the same on the different sections The data on the customers section is complete'and at the same time (through the carbon paper) this data is duplicated on the recap sheet, which is slightly wider then the customers section of the bill. This matter, blocked out, is duplicated on three other sections of the bill. If any further meter readings (whether gas or electricity) are entered, the operator strikes the spacing bar of the machine, which automatically turns the impression roll forward one printing space, and with it the bill, the foregoing operation being repeated for such entries, as such bill, is frictionally held by and moves with said impression roll through pressure of its contact rolls. The rates being printed on the bill are not entered on the n1achine,-only the totals of each item. The totals, where there is a plurality of amounts, are later entered in the accounting department. If there has been no consumption, the minimum rate is entered in its appropriate column.

It will be of advantage to have a meter book rest arranged in any convenient position, as at the left side of the machine at an incline about equal that of the key-board but extending somewhat beyond the back of the machineto support the entire book or a large part thereof. While this support may be formed in any suitable manner, it may advantageously be struck up in one piece from light metal in the form of a bracket having a table portion A with upturned retaining edges 6, the side B being secured to the frame ofthe machine in any suitable manner, as by screws, at the four corners of the machine. There are two lugs cast on the frame of the machine which may advantageously be so utilized. A substantially triangular shaped portion 0 may be struck up from side B to act as an additional support for the front or lower end of table A when bent up from side B and secured to the table bottom in any suitable manner, as by solder. Near the center of table A another or that part of it which is not hammer controlled.

displaced. There supporting arm e, which has been struck upv with the table and side, will also be secured to the bottom of table A in any suitable manner, as by a screw. It will also be of advantage to provide a clamp to hold the meter readers book a on the table in the position desired, so the leaves thereof will remain in the position in which they losing the page on'which the operator is working and causing lost time, trouble and annoythe bottom of shelf A, so that it may slide over the cover of the book at its top in order that it may, through its wedge action therewith, hold the book and its leaves as desired. It will be advantageous to have clamp f bent on itself as shown for added strength and springiness, so that by moving it up or down with the book cover and table A between its jaws the fall of the leaves of the book may be By such construction and arrangement the book will be held so that the leaves of' the book from which the meter reading and consumption are taken and which are turned up from the lower part to the top will remain in the position they are turned to, so the entries can'be made a minimum of effort by the operator and so he will be certain the leaves will not become is data on: each side of the pages of the meter readers book and that on the bill with are placed and not fallback,

taken off by the bill machine operator is taken from each side. Neither the book nor the leaves thereof. will fall back, but be held as desired by the present invention, thereby avoiding the many objections to the present horizontal rest, with which the book has even fallen off the shelf. v

This book clamp'should be pushed downward from the upper end of the book rest, on the edge of which it rides, over the inner side of the upwardly extended meter book cover and to the end of the latter, thus holding the cover down tightly. The leaves of the book will then stay put. A set screw may be screwed through the side of the book rest at its upper end, or other suitable stop used, to

prevent the clamp being taken off unauthorinches long position in front of the platen roll. After printing they placed in another pile on the table or other receptacle. With the feed guide of present invention, it is only necessary-for the operator to pull forward with a finger of one hand the front sheet in the guide support which stands slightly higher. When the top portion of the bill has ward, the operator will slip the same finger down back of the bill and press the thumb of the same hand against the front of the bill, pinching the latter between finger and thumb. The bill is then raised a very short distance and dropped in position in front of the platen. Because of the rearward inclined position of its foot with its slightly upturned outer edge, and its, very close proximity to the platen roll, notonly is the time of the operator for this operation very much reduced but his physical and mental effort both much reduced.- The operator can therefore at the same time devote part of his faculties and energies to getting ready to set up the first entry in the machine and in setting it up.

In a feed guide C the bills taken from a pile are placed, arranged in the order in which the accounts appear on the meter readers book furnished to the bill machine operator with such book. This guide is attached to any suitable part of the machine and in any desired manner. It will be advantageous to arrange the rear of such feed guide against which the bills rest with a rearward inclination of about fifteen degrees from vertical to prevent the jar or vibration of the machine displacing any of the sheets, and its foot similarly inclined upwardly and outwardly and provided with an upturned edge to keep the bills in place, as shown in Fig. l. This arrangement will so position the bills therein (of which to should be inserted at a time from those on the table or shelf at the right of the machine and of the operator) that the top or forward bill stands slightly above the others because of their inclined position and allow it to be easily removed from the feed guide by being tilted from the top by a slight touch of the operator who will pick it up, move it a short distance forward, and drop it in front of the platen or impression roll, which is then in non-printing position, that is, the impression roll is thrown back, or open. The former practice was for the bill which had been written to be removed by the same hand of the operator on introducing an unwritten bill. It is dropped automatically by my invention. The foot of the bill will be held in printing position not only between the platen and its contact rolls but also by a series of limiting stops hereinafter described, when the platen is movexl into printing position or closed.

The feed guide C may be of any suitable are also removed by hand and been thus moved for-.

shape and of any suitable material. It will be found advantageous to strike it up from light metal, as aluminum, and trough 3 in one piece, the back being inclined at about fifteen degrees from the vertical axis of the platen 4 over, and close to which, it is arranged. The sides are secured to uprights, attached to the frame of the carriage, which support the metal paper protecting shield 5 through cars which project rearwardly from the latter. Each of these uprights has at its upper end a rearwardly projecting lug to which guide C is secured in any suitable manner, as by screws, side of the guide.

Supporting bars 10 have their ends bent to form grips 11, the forward ones of which grip over the edge of paper shieldv 5 and the rear ones of which take over the top edge of the back, or bill supporting surface, of this guide which will be advantageously bent backward for the pur ose and also to form a smooth feeding surface over chute 8 and onto table 9. Chute 8, which is of similar light metal, is secured to the rear of guide C by screws or in any other suitable manner. This chute acts as a guide through which the recap sheet is fed down from the table 9 to the impression roll 4. A bail 6 for retaining the recap sheet and carbon in order may be provided. The back of guide C is provided with slots to allow adjustment longitudinally for different size bills through the cross bar which carries ,the end plates.

In order to attach this feed guide to the machine, I first remove the recap guide shelf furnished with the machine. This shelf is of quite heavy metal which extends the full width of the carriage and about half as wide as it is long, has two extension bars to support the used part of the recap sheet, which bars are adjustable transversely in slots in the guide shelf. It is part of the carriage with which it moves and when the machine is operated by depressing the throw back lever, and that is necessary each time a bill is to be inserted or removed, causes considerable the sides 1, back 2 on each i noise which tends to distract the attention ditors means of checking the customers bill,

or it must be made complete by another operation.

c To prevent this recap sheet and its accompanying carbon sheet being whipped and long strip of suitable manner,

thusgetting out of alinement, torn or creased 1n the operation of the machine so that the printing thereon will either not be complete or be illegible, itwill be advantageous to provide a guide and support therefor. While this may be of anysuitable shape or material to act as a proper support and guide, it will be advantageous that it be of similar material to that of the feed guide C and similarly formed. It may consist of a table or support 9 having downwardly turned sides 12 which gradually decrease in width from their inner ends to their outer end. The inner end of this support is for a smooth surface bent around and hinged on a spindle, the tubular bearings for which may also act as bearings for bail 6. The inner ends of the turned down sides are semi-circular and extend beyond the table portion .9, while the outer edge is bent downward to furnish a smooth surface for the the outer end of this table is secured in any as for example by solder, and at each side, studs 13 of such height and a suflicient distanc cured to them a round cross bar having perforated flattened ends which will be. sufliciently high from the table to allow the recap sheet and its accompanying carbon to be fed under such cross bar and between said studs in traveling to the point of impression, and over the same in its travel in the opposite direction. This arrangement will keep the opposite sides of the sheet from any considerable frictional contact and also keep the sheets in proper order. The studs are of such additional height above the bar that said recap sheet and carbon m bar and between said studs in its travel after having received the impression.

It will be of advant arranged to fold down when not in use so that it will be-out of the way of harm to'itself and to the machine or feed guide 0 and also allow it to becovered. For this purpose it will be of advantage to provide spring push pins 15 in the upper side of chute 8, which pins will normally be spring pressed outward shelf in horizontal position.

en it is desired to turn said shelf down into non-use position, as shown in dotted lines, both push pins will be depressed by, for

the usual guide example, the forefinger and thumb of each hand of the operator, and at the same time pressing'downward on the top of said table until it reaches substantially vertical position.

The top and bottom of the chute '8 are open "to allow the recap sheet and carbon to be fed downward through the same from table 9 to shelf under and close to platen 4, which will guide them under the feed roll or platen.

Stops 7, of any suitable character, as riv-' ets,

are secured to the outer sides of chute 8 paper to feed over. In

e apart that they have se-' ay be fed over'said age to have table 9 going in so far it will parts, especially if the to prevent the table 9 contact with machine carriage be moved.

In chute 8 will be arecap of aluminum or other suitable material. This may consist of one or more ribs of suitable height and distanced apart to guide the recap passing down, and these ribs may be made adjustable through slots in their securing flaps and in the back of chute 8 held by bolts and nuts.

It will be advantageous in threading the recap and carbon sheets into the machine to have an apron in chute8 of a sheet of similar light metal, the upper end of which is bent around a spindle jour nalled in the top inner sides of this chute 8, which apron may be of such length that it will swing freely so that it will barely touch the inside of the back of the chute. It will preferably also have its lower end bent away from the back of the chute to furnish a smooth contact surface. This apron will not only help keep the recap from buckling but will also aid in threading the recap and carbon into the machine.

vertical guide for the i which may consist der cross bar at outer end of table 9 between studs 13, over said table, down through chute. 8 between the guides near the sides therein and between the apron and back of the chute 8, under platen 4 to printing position, then upward over the top of said platen, into the bottom of said chute between the side guides therein and" between the apron and backof the chute, on top of the incoming sheets and over the cross bar between studs 13. This feed will keep the sheets in proper order and preverfit friction, especially when 'humidity is hi 011 recap sheet is used for each book when possible, the three, book, recap sheet and the bills taped thereon, auditor together. for checking.

The machine carriage is automatically caused to return to position to and does make the final imprint upon the bill, namely, re-

being returned 'to the peat printing the consumption and cost thereof on the coupon first printedupon. The carriage is then propelled by its power spring to initial printing position and the platen automatically thrown back into open or non-print position to release the printed bill and allow an unwritten bill to be inserted. This operation is controlled by the operator striking the throw back key located at the :right hand side of the key board overthe motor operating bar after such matter has been set up. At a point near the end (if its travel toward the left hand end of the machine a spring mounted abutment on the carriage contacts with Y the motor, which on the carriage is b the carriage.

is started and" a rack bar rought into mesh to return The carriage is caught under a end of a spindle on the carriage, which action is brought about by the cam action of an inclined bar on the rear of the carriage riding under a roll on the machine frame. The carriage is so held until the latch is released by the hand of the operator. In order that this spindle on the carriage may take under said latch with certainty and be held by it, such spindle is required to pass slightly beyond the lower jaw of said latch in order that it may enter the undercut slot in said latch. This spindle in going beyond the latch opening and returning to its seat causes a rebound of the carriage frame, and such action is utilized by the present invention, as hereinafter described. This action of the machine moves the platen or impression roller away from the impression position (open position) in order that the written or typed bill may be removed automatically, as hereinafter described, or by hand as heretofore, and an unwritten bill inserted.

These machines, in the operations herein referred to, have the repeat print key depressed as the matter is printed on several parts of the bill.

A spacing bail, which is automatically operated through a dog contacting with a gear on the platen roll shaft each time the machine is positioned for writing, comprises part of the machine and consists of a rock shaft 14 having bearings in the machine to which is secured by cross bars 16, a rod 17 in front of and parallel therewith which is caused to rock with shaft 14 when forced down by jaws 18 on the carriage rail between which it is mounted. I provide an additional shaft 19 supported on hangers 21 at each end of the frame of the machine secured in any suitable manner, as by screws. At the right end of this shaft is secured a collar 22 in which is stepped a stud 23 having a roller surfaceii To the left of collar 22 is mounted a plate 24 to which is screwed or otherwise suitably secured a finger 25. On the right hand end of shaft 19 also is secured a spring 26 which performs two functions, namely, pressing shaft 19 toward its bearing at the left of the machine and also to aid in rocking shaft 19 and the roller covered stud 23 forward. This shaft 19 is caused to rock by the depression of an abutment 27 secured to it in any suitable manner, as by a split bushing 28 on shaft 19 to which it is secured. This abutment will be arranged about one quarter the distance from the right hand end of shaft 19 so it will not contact with other parts of the machine in its travel and will extend under shaft 14 and under rod 17 so that when the latter is pulled down by jaws 18shaft 19 will also be depressed through rod 17 striking said abutment and forcing it and said shaft 19 to which it is secured down.

, On this additional shaft 19 are secured also a number of stops 29 of angular shape, so arranged that they move with said shaft. lVhen in normal position their slightly longer upper sides will project upward and forward at an angle of about 30 degrees and their shorter ends will project downward at a right angle thereto to form a temporary screw, to a shaft in the machine located just below and to the rear of shaft 19 is a plate 24. This plate has a clearance in its central portion through which shaft 19 passes. Its upper end is flattened and it has an upwardly extending portion to the outer end of which is secured a spring latch 30 by one or more screws. Out of the flat top portion of plate 24 are bent downward and outward two ears 31, 32, to form between them an open space in which stud 23 will have a limited rocking movement when shaft 19 is rocked. Latch 30 extends about half the length of the space between ears 31, 32, and has its end turned inward toward stud 23 which normally rests at a slight forward incline and against foremost ear 31. \Vhen said stud is rocked on its shaft it will be held from returning to normal positionby said inturned end of said latch. A lug 33, having a hole therein, is turned up from the body portion of plate 24 and substantially at right angles thereto and by which lug the plate 24 is secured to its supporting shaft. Spring 26- is secured in holes in plate 24 and shaft 19.

\Vhen abutment 27 is forced down the limited extent to which it is capable of being forced, about of a turn of said shaft 19 and with its stud 23 until the latter passes and is held by latch 30 on plate 24 until it is rel-eased, thus giving time for the bill g in the machine to clear the carriage in its fall down into its receptacle.

For restoring the shaft 19 with the stud and limiting stops connected therewith to normal position there is secured to a shaft having hearings in the carriage frame on which the platen roll carrying framework is secured and which shaft rocks forward and backward to throw the platen etc. into and out of impression position, a hanger, as 34, p

which may be of any suitable material, as cast steel, is secured in any suitable manner, as by a screw, to said shaft. As this shaft is rounded it will be advantageous to cut out a small portion of this curved surface to allow hanger 34 to have a fiat rest for which purpose hanger 34 will have a square body portion with a depending extension 35, the lower end of which is centrally perforated to allow a screw threaded bolt 36 to pass through and be held therein by its head and a nut. On said bolt is mounted a finger 37 of any suitable material, as springy metal, one end of which has a perforation to allow of its being hung on said bolt before the nut is screwed on tight to hold said finger from turning on said bolt. This restoring device is so mounted 011 said shaft in front of stud 23 that it will allow finger 37 to contact with and force back to normal position said stud 23 and also the shaft and limited stops carried thereby, when the shaft to which it is attached is moved forward by the platen being turned to printing position. That the position of finger 37 may he certainly .so located that it will contact with said stud 23 to return it to normal at this time, it will be positioned on said shaft to do so and also made somewhat adjustable laterally of the machine to relate it with said stud, in any suitable manner as by washers on either or both sides of said finger. Finger 37 being suspended on the platen carrying shaft just in front of stud 23, said finger will automatically restore to normal position said stud 23 and with it the shaft 19 on which said stud is mounted. Limit stops 29 will similarly be restored to normal position-to act as a bill rest by reason of their moving with shaft 19 and stud 23. When the platen is brought to printing position its shaft will rock forward carrying hanger 34 mounted thereon and finger 37 backward a suflicient distance to kick stud 23 back to normal and with it shaft 19 to which it is secured.

A shield S of any suitable shape and of light material, as aluminum, of sufficient length to substantially cover shaft 19 and of suitable width so that it will not interfere with milled contact rolls 38, has its upper edge bent backward at an acute angle to allow it to snugly fit over the upper edge of the shelf supporting contact rolls 38 and will be' cut out at the points where said contact rolls 38 rise so the latter will not be interfered with. It will have openings also to allow it tofit over the limiting stops. Shield S will have each end bent upward slightly and be perforated to receive one or more screws to allow it to be secured to the frame of the machine at each end. This shield will also act as a guide to direct the bills to their rest on the limiting stops, and direct their fall and prevent their getting dirty through contacting with operative parts of the maghine.

Any suitable receptacle to receive the falling bills after their release may be employed, as for example a light metal frame or basket with open ends having its inner side inclined slightly toward the machine. The control bracket and levers at the rear of the machine project so far that the bills get dirty if they come in contact with them. When such parts are covered by the limiting stop shield the space for collecting the typed bills because of the closeness of themotor casing is too restricted to receive and hold a suficient number of typed bills, about 100. Such receptacle may therefore be conveniently placed in front of, and secured to, the motor shaft housing in any suitable manner. 'Therefore it Will be found of advantage to have a booster of any suitable character, as a forked rod Q, secured to the left hand end of the carriage frame to move backward from left to right with such carriage which will thereby push such bills into said receptacle so far that they can readily be reached, by the operator, at the right hand end of the machine for removal. secured between the left end of said shield and its anchorage, the one screw answering to secure both to the carriage frame.

It sometimes happens that a bill has not been stencilled' in the addressograph department or, on which no entry is to be made, as an inactive account or where the operator desires to make a note on some bill. In such .a case, it is of advantage to avoid completely operating the machine on discovering such bill. For this purpose I secure to the shaft 19 a lever P substantially S-shaped arranged at the left end of shaft 19 to rock said shaft so the limit stops will be depressed below the openings in shield S and allow the bill to drop. This pivot is at the end of said lever, which is of such length that it will extend sufliciently above the frame to allow its handle, which may be of any suitable form, to be within easy reach between the left side of the machine and the right of the book support so that it can be lightly pressed by the operator to turn down shaft 19 and the limiting stops so such bill will drop.

This lever has a slightly are shaped slot at the lower end in the bend of such lever of such length and so arranged that when the handle thereof is depressed, the extent of such movement will be limited to turn the shaft 19 to which it is affixed and to which the limiting stops are also secured only a suificient distance to allow said shaft to depress the limiting stops to allow such bills to fall, but will not be depressed to such an extent that said limiting stops will be until restored through the operation of the spring and post at the opposite end of said shaft. Said lever is returned automatically to normal position by a spring 39 of any suitable character secured to said lever and also to shaft 19.

' Instead of the large card in a less visible position, I provide a rate card having de- Booster or pusher Q will be.

held depressed V s gnated thereon in red figures the consumptlon and adjacent thereto in black figures the value in money corresponding to the cost of such consumption. to this card, one for gas and one for electric- 1ty. This card is indicated at B (Fig. 1) and maybe advantageously secured in any suitable manner to the top bank or rows of keys, the error keys, as by rings passing through There are two sections perforations in the bottom of said cards surrounding the stems of one or more of said keys at each end, and the card rested at an acute angle from the table of the machine in the clips of said rings. Or they may be so held by rubber bands.

It will be obvious that there isthus ar ranged all the material required, the bills, book, rates, recap, key board and completed bills,"constantly within the convenient vision of the operator without his being required hardly to turn his head; all being in a very restricted area and-most advantageous. It will also be observed thatjar or vibration of the machine is much reduced and that there is an increased output per operator and an improvement in the quality with less effort on the part of the operator. have increased the wages of the operator for a shorter working period and reduced effort.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with its carriage provided with bill and audit sheet supporting device arranged above and in close proximity to impression roll. of sheet supporting stops controlled in their operation by the action of said carriage.

2. In a machine of the class described having a carriage, the combination with sheet and recap supportlng and guiding devices secured to the carriage and arranged above and in close proximity to the impression roll of a supplementary shaft having bearings on the machine frame and stops on said shaft arranged to be operated-by the movement of said carriage.

3. In a machine of the class described having a carriage frame and impression roll, the combination with a billsupporting device arranged over and in proximity to the impression roll adapted to move with the carriage frame, of an audit sheet supporting and guiding device secured to said bill support.

4. In a machine of the class described hav- 111g a carriage, the combination of a shaft supported in the frame, one or more stops on said shaft arranged in one position to support, and in another to drop, a sheet, said action of said stop being controlled by movement of the carriage.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination. with its carriage and accompanying sheet supporting device, of a shaft supported in the frame, one or more stops on said shaft arranged in one position to support, and in another to drop, a sheet, said action of said stop being controlled by the movement of the carriage.

6. In a niachine of the class described, the combination with its carriage provided with bill and audit sheet supporting device arranged above and in close proximity to im- -pression roll, of a shaft supported in the frame, one or more stops on said shaft ar- These devices ranged in one position to support, and in another to drop, a sheet, said action of said stop being controlled by movement of the car'- riage.

7. In a machine of the class described having a carriage frame and impression roll, and in combination, means arranged in the machine frame for supporting a sheet during printing and caused by the action of the carriag e to release said sheet after printing.

8. In a machine of the class described, having a carriage frame and impression roll, and in combination, a shaft supported in the frame of the machine, said shaft being arranged for supporting a sheet during printing and for releasing said sheet by the action of the carriage after printing.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a feeding device having a back and sides in one piece secured to the carriage of said machine above and in proximity to the impression roll and inclined backward, its foot being inclined upward for supporting a supply of bills, of a recap guide hinged to said feeding device, and a guiding chute arranged therebetween.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with hangers mounted in each end thereof, of a shaft having bearings in said hangers and carrying bill supporting stops, an abutment on said shaft arranged to cause said stops to be lowered on the rocking of said shaft forward, a stud carried by said shaft and a finger in proximity thereto and arranged to contact with said stud to return said shaft and stops to normal position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

HARRY H. WALKER. 

